{"id":116709,"date":"2023-08-22T13:52:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T17:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/say-goodbye-french\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T06:52:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T11:52:30","slug":"say-goodbye-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/say-goodbye-french\/","title":{"rendered":"47 Ways to Say Goodbye in French for Different Situations"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to fit in better with the native speakers and sound more natural when speaking French, it’s important to learn different ways to say “goodbye.” Because despite you probably exclusively au revoir,\u00a0<\/em>French actually offers a rich variety of expressions to say goodbye\u2014each suited to different contexts, levels of formality and even regional nuances.<\/p>\n

Familiarizing yourself with these 47 expressions will help you sound natural and adaptable, whether you’re in France, Quebec or any other French-speaking region.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

Neutral Ways to Say Goodbye in French<\/h2>\n

Au revoir<\/em> (Goodbye)<\/h3>\n

This is the standard and most common way to say goodbye in French. It’s appropriate for most situations, whether formal or casual. Use it with anyone you’re not particularly close to. Literally, it means “until we see each other again.”<\/p>\n

\u00c0 bient\u00f4t !<\/em> (See you soon!)<\/h3>\n

This one’s versatile and can be used in various settings. Use it when you expect to see the person again in the near future, regardless of the level of familiarity.<\/p>\n

Ciao !<\/em> (Bye!)<\/h3>\n

Borrowed from Italian, this informal goodbye is popular among younger generations. You’ll particularly hear native speakers use this one at the end of a phone conversation.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 demain<\/em> (See you tomorrow!)<\/h3>\n

Simple! This one’s great to use at the end of the day with those you see regularly at work or school. Meaning “see you tomorrow,” this phrase is suitable for parting when you expect to meet again the next day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Je suis d\u00e9sol\u00e9, mais je dois y aller<\/em> (I\u2019m sorry, but I have to go)<\/h3>\n

The main idea with this expression is its sense of urgency, and it’s the “je dois y aller”<\/em> which relays this message.<\/p>\n

If you want to be more explicit and state exactly where you’re going, you don’t need the y<\/em> and would just say where you’re going:\u00a0Je dois aller au mus\u00e9e<\/em> (I have to go to the museum).<\/p>\n

Informal Goodbyes in French<\/h2>\n

Salut !<\/em> (Bye!)<\/h3>\n

“Salut<\/em>!” is commonly used in French to say both “hi” and “bye” in informal settings. It serves as a casual way to bid farewell to your friend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00c0 tout \u00e0 l\u2019heure !<\/em> (See you in a little while!)<\/h3>\n

This is the perfect expression to use for if you’re parting with friends that you’re certain to see again later in the day.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 plus tard<\/em> (See you later!)<\/h3>\n

This one’s suitable for casual and friendly interactions. Use it when parting with friends or acquaintances, especially when you plan to meet again on the same day.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 plus <\/em><\/a>(See you!)<\/h3>\n

This is a shortened, more casual version of \u00c0 plus tard.<\/em><\/p>\n

On se voit plus tard<\/em> (See you later)<\/h3>\n

This is a friendly and informal way to bid farewell, indicating that you expect to see the person again in the future.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 la prochaine fois<\/em> (Until next time)<\/h3>\n

This casual phrase is used to express the idea of meeting again in the future. It’s suitable for friends and casual relationships.<\/p>\n

Salut<\/em> (Bye, See ya)<\/h3>\n

This is a casual and friendly way to say goodbye, similar to “bye” or “see ya” in English.<\/p>\n

Je m\u2019en vais<\/em> (I\u2019m outta here)<\/h3>\n

If it’s been a long night at a party with friends and you’re heading off in your own direction, this one is a great way to make an exit.<\/p>\n

Je me casse<\/em> \/ Je me tire<\/em> (I\u2019m off)<\/h3>\n

Both of these mean relatively the same thing, but they’re more colloquial than je m’en vais,<\/em> and they’ll be considered somewhat offensive in polite company. So, user beware!<\/p>\n

Formal Goodbyes in French<\/h2>\n

D\u00e9sol\u00e9, mais je dois filer !<\/em> (Sorry, but I’ve got to run!)<\/h3>\n

This is a little phrase you can use in informal settings, like when you have to leave a group of friends rather abruptly. The d\u00e9sol\u00e9(e)<\/em> (sorry) renders this phrase polite so that you don\u2019t have to worry about offending anyone.<\/p>\n

Bonne journ\u00e9e<\/em> \/ Bonne soir\u00e9e<\/em> (Have a nice day \/ Have a nice evening)<\/h3>\n

Use these expressions at the end of a conversation as you part ways with someone for the day or night. You might use this when leaving a shop or after chatting with a colleague you ran into on the street. You’ll most likely also follow this up by saying au revoir.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both of these expressions are relatively formal but used quite often by native French speakers. The formality can be increased by adding Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle to the end of it.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 la prochaine<\/em> (Until next time!)<\/h3>\n

In the same vein as the literal translation of au revoir<\/em> (until we see each other again), \u00e0 la prochaine<\/em> indicates that you plan on seeing the person you’re talking to again in the future.<\/p>\n

Literally “until next time,” this is suitable for more formal farewells. Use it in professional settings or when parting with someone you might not know well personally.<\/p>\n

Je vous salue<\/em> (I salute you)<\/h3>\n

This is a respectful and formal way to say goodbye. Use it with individuals who are older, in authority or in a more formal relationship.<\/p>\n

Passez une excellente journ\u00e9e<\/em> (Have an excellent day)<\/h3>\n

This is a polite and formal way to say goodbye, especially in professional or customer service contexts.<\/p>\n

Au plaisir de vous revoir<\/em> (Looking forward to seeing you again)<\/h3>\n

You can use this polite goodbye in professional situations, like when leaving a networking event.<\/p>\n

Je vous dis \u00e0 bient\u00f4t<\/em> (I’ll see you soon)<\/h3>\n

This formal phrase is appropriate for business settings or when you want to convey a sense of anticipation for the next meeting.<\/p>\n

Prenez soin de vous<\/em> (Take care of yourself)<\/h3>\n

Show consideration for the other person’s well-being with this caring formal expression.<\/p>\n

Adieu<\/em> (Farewell)<\/h3>\n

Adieu isn’t a French goodbye to be taken lightly or used often. It’s highly formal, and it has a sense of finality.<\/p>\n

Steer clear of this one unless you never plan on seeing the person again or one of you is on your death bed.<\/p>\n

You will get the idea from the song “Adieu”<\/em> by\u00a0C\u0153ur de pirate, which is about a cheater getting very seriously dumped.<\/p>\n

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Regional Variations on French Goodbyes<\/h2>\n

Depending on where in the French-speaking world you are, you might hear variations on goodbyes. Here are some common ones to look out for:<\/p>\n